SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -
An old poplar tree across from the airport in South Burlington knocked out power to 60 homes and businesses in the city Thursday, but air travel was never in danger.
A large limb split off one of the two tree trunks and landed on a power line. The tree sits on an Airport Drive property now owned by the Burlington International Airport. The home is scheduled for demolition.
Green Mountain Power was on the scene immediately, but officials say the airport's backup generators kicked in right away and never posed a risk to outgoing or incoming flights.
"It's all fueled. It's by gas. So the minute we lose electricity it pops right back up again. So we absolutely have no disconnect at all," said Gene Richards, the interim airport director.
DJ's Tree Service was called in to remove the downed limb and the rest of the tree trunk. GMP officials say the power was out for just over an hour.
